Reds qualified for the last four clash with the Italian giants thanks to a 3-1 win over Iran's Sepahan at Toyota Stadium on Monday evening, allowing the former Canada coach and his players to lock horns with Carlo Ancelotti's European champions at Yokohama International Stadium.

"Our aim has been to qualify for the semi-finals and we knew our opponents would be AC Milan," he said. "There is no question that Milan is one of the top teams in the world, not just in Europe.

"It's a great opportunity for us to play this team. Our team will be focused. Playing against Milan is not only a challenge it's a responsibility. We have to perform well.

"We can't show up only and play. We have to perform and that's the responsibility we are facing."

The meeting with Milan is another high point in the career of Osieck, who worked as assistant coach to Franz Beckenbauer when West Germany won the World Cup in 1990 before steering the Canadians to victory at the Gold Cup 10 years later.

He took over at Urawa at the beginning of the year following the resignation of German compatriot Guido Buchwald, who won the J.League title and Emperor's Cup in 2006, and he ended the season having steered the club to their first ever Asian title.

But while facing off against Ancelotti will be a personal milestone, Osieck stressed it will be a bigger occasion for the fans and players of Japan's best-supported club.

"At club level it's the first time I am coaching a team at the Club World Cup, I've never had the opportunity," he said. "The competition is still pretty young.

"I'm very pleased but I'm more pleased for my players and the club because there's a big movement here, in Saitama and Japan, and the supporters of our team. For our fans it is tremendous and I'm very happy, more for them than myself."

Reds' performance against Sepahan was a marked improvement from their showings in recent weeks, when fatigue clearly caught up with Osieck's side following their cross-continental exertions in pursuit of the Asian title.

Two points from their last five J.League games saw them surrender the domestic title to Kashima Antlers on the final day of the season while they also exited the Emperor's Cup at the hands of second division strugglers Ehime FC.

However, a week's worth of rest and recuperation allowed Osieck's revitalised side to play the kind of football that saw them crowned kings of Asia and ease past Sepahan.

"There are a lot of factors that we need to take into account when assessing the situation," said Osieck of the effort required to lift his team out of the doldrums.

"We had to get over the disappointment we went through after our last game. I gave them two days off to get away from everything, all the disappointment. Then, on Tuesday, we had some fun games, a five-a-side tournament. They were so committed and they had fun and there was laughter, like nothing had happened.

"We worked on the tactical set up and the result (against Sepahan) was pretty positive. To overcome our disappointment, to get the fun back, our pleasure back and then to focus on this very important game.

"The time factor was very decisive. We had some more days between the games and that helped a lot."